Mrs Michael Lerner with 210lb Striped Marlin in Bermagui (1939)

Photograph. Caption on the board 'Mrs Michael Lerner of USA with her 210lb striped marlin caught at Bermagui 30.3.1939.' inscribed & signed on the image 'For Mrs O'Shea with Kindest Regards Helen Lerner.' (Mrs O'Shea was a member of the family that owned O'Shea's Hotel in Bermagui). Big game fishing in the 1930s was an exclusive & expensive sport with few female participants. On June 7th, 1939 Helen's husband Michael Lerner formed the international game fishing Association (Igfa). Clive Firth of Australia was elected as Igfa's first overseas representative, Ernest Hemingway who was a good friend of the Lerners, was one of the early officers. 'The founding fathers of Igfa including. Michael Lerner, Clive Firth and Ernest Hemingway.' the Lerner house in the Bahamas figures prominently in the opening lines of Hemingway's book Island in the Stream. There is a Michael Lerner lookout at Bermagui. Image size 25 x 20 cm. Lettered mount board 40 x 29 cm. Image has minor faults but is clean & sharp. Mount board has old tape marks. Photograph laid down on original board.